Latest Poliomyelitis eradication Stories
New cases at lowest levels ever, but funding gap threatens progress GENEVA, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Despite the dramatic drop in polio cases in the last year, the threat of continued transmission due to funding and immunization gaps has driven the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to launch an Emergency Action Plan. The plan aims to boost vaccination coverage in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the three remaining polio endemic countries, to levels needed...
EVANSTON, Ill., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rotary International, as a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, strongly supports the World Health Assembly considering a resolution that would declare polio eradication a global emergency for public health. Rotarians know that while recent progress against this disease gives the world the best opportunity ever to succeed, the consequences of failure are unimaginable - a true global health emergency....
LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- International Medical Corps will immediately scale up its support to the government of Chad in polio eradication activities through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The organization will increase the availability of the polio vaccine and immunization services for targeted communities in eastern Chad; improve resilience to polio and other disease outbreaks through community education efforts; and strengthen the...
U.S. Government leads public sector support in reducing polio cases by 99% EVANSTON, Ill., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rotary International will recognize seven members of Congress as Polio Eradication Champions on April 24, at the United States Capitol Building. Rotary established the Polio Eradication Champion Award in 1995 to honor heads of state and others who have made a significant global contribution to ending polio. Since the 1980s, the United States...
'Will model ourselves on your example,' USAID head announces at first-ever Rotary Day at the White House EVANSTON, Ill., April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Citing Rotary's leadership in immunizing the world's children against the crippling disease polio, Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of USAID, the government's primary foreign assistance agency, said a new campaign to improve maternal and child health will follow the Rotary model. (Photo:...
Historic first visit to Afghanistan by humanitarian organization's top leader EVANSTON, Ill., April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee made history April 2 when he met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul to encourage continued national support for the campaign to eradicate the crippling disease polio. He is the first Rotary president to visit Afghanistan. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120404/DC82417)...
EVANSTON, Ill., March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Although the United Nations designates March 22 as World Water Day, Rotary members around the globe are focused on the issue 24/7, volunteering their time and resources to provide safe water and sanitation to communities wherever there is need. A centerpiece of Rotary's emphasis on water and sanitation issues is the International H2O Collaboration, an alliance between Rotary International and USAID (U.S. Agency for...
Former GE vice president David Jensen will direct communications for global humanitarian service organization EVANSTON, Ill., March 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rotary International has named David Jensen, former vice president for corporate communications at GE Capital International Services (now Genpact), as its new chief communications officer, directing all internal and external communications operations at the humanitarian service organization's international...
In the event that a vaccine for the prevention of malaria is licensed and ready for use (such as the research malaria vaccine RTS,S, which currently looks promising), distributing and giving the vaccine to three-month old infants via the World Health Organization's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) will be the most efficient mechanism in high transmission areas but for lower transmission areas, mass vaccination every 5 years might be a more efficient vaccination strategy, a new study...
Gates Foundation announces an additional $50 million to end polio SAN DIEGO, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Despite a stagnant global economy, Rotary clubs around the world have succeeded in raising more than US$200 million in new funding for polio eradication. The fundraising milestone, announced today at Rotary's annual International Assembly in San Diego, was reached in response to a $355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. All funds...
